Summer plays underway at Sandburg home

Special to the Times-News

Published: Sunday, July 7, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, July 5, 2013 at 1:24 p.m.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site and Flat Rock Playhouse have opened two shows, "Rootabaga!" and "The World of Carl Sandburg," which run through Aug. 10 in the Carl Sandburg Home amphitheater in Flat Rock.

These free shows have been performed at the Sandburg Home since 1974 and are the result of a partnership between Carl Sandburg Home NHS and the Flat Rock Playhouse, where members of the Playhouse Apprentice Program perform the shows.

"Performing at the Carl Sandburg Home is one of the highlights of the summer for our apprentice company," said Vincent Marini, artistic director of Flat Rock Playhouse. "For decades now, we have had a close relationship with our friends and neighbors at Sandburg.

"We use these unique performance opportunities as recruiting tools that help us attract top-notch, emerging performers. We choose our apprentice company from over 1,000 auditionees, and I know our ongoing partnership with the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site has been and will continue to be vital to our ability to attract the very best talent in the Southeast.

"I encourage everyone to come out and see both of our productions and experience the beauty of Carl Sandburg's work uniquely presented by some extraordinary young performers," he said.

Flat Rock Playhouse was founded in 1936 as the Vagabond Players, and from the inception of the company, training theater artists has been a vital part of the mission. Over the years, more than 1,000 students have been apprentices at the Playhouse. Many continue to be a part of the company and the full-time Playhouse staff.

Sandburg enjoyed exploring America, journeying first through the Midwest as a hobo in 1897, selling stereoviews door-to-door in the Northeast and traveling on the first cross-continental jet flight in 1959. His experiences, living, working and writing about everyday Americans, "the toolmakers, the stackers of wheat" gave his poetry a rugged, individual free verse style.

The shows begin at 10:15 a.m. at the park amphitheater adjacent to the Sandburg Home. Wednesday and Friday's 30-minute performance is "The World of Carl Sandburg," based on the 1960 Broadway production.

Thursday and Saturday's performance is "Rootabaga!" based on tales from Sandburg's collection of children's stories found in "Rootabaga Stories." The stories are set to musical tunes from Sandburg's collection of folk music found in his "American Songbag." The result is 30 minutes of zany, toe-tapping stories that promise to delight children of all ages.

Performances are held rain or shine. Call 828-693-4178 or visit www.nps.gov/carl for more information.

<p>Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site and Flat Rock Playhouse have opened two shows, "Rootabaga!" and "The World of Carl Sandburg," which run through Aug. 10 in the Carl Sandburg Home amphitheater in Flat Rock. </p><p>These free shows have been performed at the Sandburg Home since 1974 and are the result of a partnership between Carl Sandburg Home NHS and the Flat Rock Playhouse, where members of the Playhouse Apprentice Program perform the shows.</p><p>"Performing at the Carl Sandburg Home is one of the highlights of the summer for our apprentice company," said Vincent Marini, artistic director of Flat Rock Playhouse. "For decades now, we have had a close relationship with our friends and neighbors at Sandburg. </p><p>"We use these unique performance opportunities as recruiting tools that help us attract top-notch, emerging performers. We choose our apprentice company from over 1,000 auditionees, and I know our ongoing partnership with the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site has been and will continue to be vital to our ability to attract the very best talent in the Southeast. </p><p>"I encourage everyone to come out and see both of our productions and experience the beauty of Carl Sandburg's work uniquely presented by some extraordinary young performers," he said.</p><p>Flat Rock Playhouse was founded in 1936 as the Vagabond Players, and from the inception of the company, training theater artists has been a vital part of the mission. Over the years, more than 1,000 students have been apprentices at the Playhouse. Many continue to be a part of the company and the full-time Playhouse staff.</p><p>Sandburg enjoyed exploring America, journeying first through the Midwest as a hobo in 1897, selling stereoviews door-to-door in the Northeast and traveling on the first cross-continental jet flight in 1959. His experiences, living, working and writing about everyday Americans, "the toolmakers, the stackers of wheat" gave his poetry a rugged, individual free verse style.</p><p>The shows begin at 10:15 a.m. at the park amphitheater adjacent to the Sandburg Home. Wednesday and Friday's 30-minute performance is "The World of Carl Sandburg," based on the 1960 Broadway production. </p><p>Thursday and Saturday's performance is "Rootabaga!" based on tales from Sandburg's collection of children's stories found in "Rootabaga Stories." The stories are set to musical tunes from Sandburg's collection of folk music found in his "American Songbag." The result is 30 minutes of zany, toe-tapping stories that promise to delight children of all ages. </p><p>Performances are held rain or shine. Call 828-693-4178 or visit www.nps.gov/carl for more information.</p>